Return to Lisbona

Josè Saramago wrote in "Journey to Portugal"

"... The journey never ends. Only the travelers end up. And they can endure in memory, in memory, in the narration. When the traveler was seated on the sand of the beach and said" there is more to see "knew that was not true.
We must see what is not seen, see again what we have seen, in the spring to see what we saw in the summer, see what days we have seen at night, where the sun first time it rained, see the green harvest, the mature fruit, the stone which has changed the place, that the shadow was not there.
We must get back on the steps already, to repeat, and to draw alongside new paths. We need to repeat the journey. Ever. The traveler returns immediately. "


I like traveling a lot and I am of the view to see new things, new places, new cultures, I would often say to return to a place but does not usually happen to me back in the same place in the short term except to places close to home .
The summer of 2002 I and some friends we decided to make the tour of Portugal, was a fantastic holiday in many ways, a place where the end of travel in most of the trips I have said .... One day return to Portugal.
For a number of circumstances (I attended a religious meeting that took place from 28 December to 1 January) ECCOMI HERE! this new year I went back to Portugal, more precisely in the capital, the peculiar Lisbon and its surroundings, such as the town of Cascais.
In my story I do not have many details on the trip to tell because everything was covered by a precise organization and with regard to housing, we were hosted by a lovely Portuguese family, but I will try to give you a description of how I see it the city of Lisbon in the hope that my story interests you, and maybe even make you want to go ahead.
First I must say that the first time I went to Lisbon was in the August and thought it was very hot, in fact we have very light clothes while being near the ocean was very much wind. Going around the outskirts of Lisbon we saw a lot of stalls that sold heavy wool sweaters, and we wondered why we ask?! Well after two days in Lisbon we understood why.
Returning in a completely different season or in winter I thought that there is much wind in the summer were pretty cold, is not true. In winter the climate is much milder, so we have explained, that was fine, the temperature was around 18 degrees, there was no wind and ... for the second time our clothes were not quite well-but, frankly speaking, was much better this way.
What about Lisbon? E 'a city very colorful and full of color, are perhaps typical tram that bring much joy? The means of transport is very efficient, especially trams and trains to the surface, there are also ferries to reach the other shore of the Tagus River which crosses the city.
Lisbon is full of up and down hills, and you should absolutely not miss the ride on the tram n, 28th It 'an unforgettable experience because you have suffered a vision of the typical characteristics of this city with its narrow alleys all uphill and downhill paths from the tram that takes you to the nearest of the Bairro Alto district dell'Alfama.

 

After a ride on the tram 28 to get a full picture of the city council to do some tours on foot:
ITINERARY N. 1
Reaching the square from Figueira and go in the beautiful Piazza D. Pedro IV, also known as RED where you can admire two beautiful fountains, the statue of Don Pedro and the facade of the Teatro National de Maria II.
Turning the corner of the square to the north you can see a building that really hit you immediately to his style: the Estacao do Rossio train station or the whole style manuelino, truly spectacular. After some unforgettable photos of the station will continue to Rua Augusta is a pedestrian street that will take us straight to PRACA DO TRADE.
But ... At the first intersection turn left to board the elevator of Santa Justa elevator that connects the hill above the earth and brings you directly to the Convento do Carmo (the entrance was closed for work) but the platform sull'ascensore there is a breathtaking panorama across the whole city.
Continue down the Rua Augusta where we lose a little for the different stalls and finally arrive at Praca do Commercio, a large square and very beautiful overlooking the Tagus.
Finished this journey that has filled all of our half day we decide to stop eating in the streets entering the Chiado until then to reach the area of Bairro Alto.
Reach on foot the Miradouro (ie BELVEDERE) of Santa Catarina and take down the Elevador da Bica, a tram that goes down a very steep slope and I like to prove that all these things a little 'you like a particular bag.

ITINERARY N. 2
From Cais do Sodré Station in Lisbon, you can easily reach Belem, where there are 3 beautiful monuments to visit that many define the most important of the city, the Mosteiro dos Jeronimos masterpiece of art manuelino visit to branch out from the inside where there are also the tombs of Vasco da Gama and Camoes, the Tower of Belem, manufacturers in the river as a platform for departure of the great explorers, and just below the Padrao dos Descobrimentos monument dedicated to the maritime discoveries from the top where you see the entire mosaic illustrates the travel domain and Portuguese. Returning to the Cais do Sodré train station, take the ferry that will take us the other side of the river to reach the majestic statue of Cristo Rei, which is located above the hill overlooking the city.
From the bank need to take a bus that takes us directly under the statue. Even here we go up on the platform where you see all the monuments in the foreground and the Ponte 25 Abril.

ITINERARY N. 3
Back in the city decide to dedicate ourselves to the eastern part of Lisbon and always starting from the Praca do marketing reach on foot the Igreja de Sant 'Antonio which is the house where he was born the famous St. Antonio di Padova (or better "from Lisboa"), we visit the church and soon after called the Cathedral of Lisbon Sé (which means Head of Bishops).
Then follow the road on foot and reach the beautiful Miradouro de St. Luzia, with its beautiful garden and its beautiful azulejos (blue and white pottery typical Portuguese).
Being a fantastic day we decide to eat outside outdoors enjoying the beautiful colors of Lisbon.
In the afternoon we arrive at the Castelo S. Jorge, that to me personally I was not impressed, it's much better to admire it from below, which dominates the city. One thing which struck me were the streets that surround it: we are nell'ALFAMA perhaps the most beautiful neighborhood of Lisbon with its narrow Viette with clothes laid out, the music of fado in the background, a 'Moresca atmosphere, hard to describe: you just go there

AROUND LISBON

AROUND LISBON
Not only Lisbon! Even the surroundings they deserve! We are staying in Cascais, a small town overlooking the ocean. From here you can reach easily Lisbana in 30 minutes through a train of surface that comes directly to the station of Cais do Sodré.
The place is great especially for the atmosphere of the country of the sea, there is a beautiful view with a lighthouse at the tip of a small promontory and a small river that is thrown into the sea, along the road that runs along the sea you will reach another very beautiful place called "Boca do Inferno", which is an inlet carved in the rock very suggestive.
After you have visited Lisbon time progresses if you can not renounce a breathtaking landscape is the most westerly point of Europe and is called Cape da Roca! Go there and be amazed! There are no words to describe this place.
Unfortunately, my return to Portugal are not able to go there again but who knows ... maybe next time!


One thing that concerns is that the Portuguese people are a fascinating, and do not have anything to do with the Spanish, and also among their neighbors is not good blood runs so I advise you strongly not to speak Spanish with them because they offend a lot.
Speaking of appearance culinario the Portuguese most of all is the "bacalau" write like that all tour guides are really cooked in many ways, is even more good if accompanied by a bottle of white wine, I believe that the "green wine "is the north of Portugal but it is very good.
In the period when we went we, that is, around new year, we were offered several times a very typical cake, panettone Portugal to make a comparison. It's called "Bolo Rei" and a donut with a small hole filled with candied fruits and vegetables.

I hope I will not bore you with my story a little 'long, I tried to write the essential but enthusiasm for this trip has the upper hand!
Laura